Skip to main content

Matt Vs. Smashfest 2014



Following Nintendo's presentation at the E3 computer and video game exposition, select Best Buy electronic stores hosted Smashfest where fans had the chance to try out Super Smash Bros 4






Super Smash Bros is a party fighting game that brings together characters from several Nintendo franchises. that debuted in 1999 on the Nintendo. Since then its sequels Super Smash Bros Melee and Super Smash Bros Brawl have garnered skilled and passionate followings on the GameCube & Wii respectively. I originally got into the franchise after seeing a commercial for the N64 which my ten year old self thought was out of this world.



Super Smash Bros 4 is being released this year for both the 3DS and the Wii U making it both the first portable Smash Bros. game and the first HD version of the game. I went to my local Best Buy an hour early  expecting a minimal line however what I was met with was the oddest mix of bros high-schoolers, and parents with a few children mixed in that I have ever seen. I talked to people in line and heard a few have driven nearly two hours to get a chance the play the Wii U version of Smash 4.  Unfortunately since Best Buy only had one Wii U set up, only four people could  play the game at once and the line progressed at a snails. While in line, a Best Buy representative was walking around and giving people the chance to try out the 3DS version. I initial had little interest in the portable version as I thought it would just be a watered down version of the full console experience. However after playing through 5 minutes of the side scrolling Smash Run  mode, the game definitely rose to the top of the pile for when I eventually upgrade my DS. Smash Run is similar to the Melee's Adventure mode however in this mode, characters collect items and power ups from defeating enemies that can be used to upgrade character stats for use in battles and challenge level. I played this mode as Luigi who plays similar to his Brawl counterpart. The transition from playing Smash Bros with a Gamecube controller  to 3DS controls was rather jarring.




After a rather embarrassingly long wait in line I played Smash Bros 4 and while I was impressed by the game, it felt very similar to Brawl. In retrospect, perhaps a bit too similar for my tastes. I chose Little Mac from Punch-Out, one of the new characters introduced in this game after some debate from other players in line. I struggled with the game initially due to being inexperienced with the Wii U Pro controller. After playing Super Smash Bros with a Gamecube controller for over a decade this control change could not be overcome. Nintendo will be addressing this issue by re-releasing the GC controller along with a GC controller adapter that can plug directly into the Wii U console. I did rather poorly in the timed match, far from my days of ruling the game room at college. The novelty of playing Little Mac wore off as he was too fast for his own good and I had to learn his moveset on the fly. Perhaps I would of had better luck sticking to my Brawl favorite Luigi. Nevertheless, I did  enjoy my time with the game and toward the end of my play time, I noticed that the game did play slightly faster than Brawl . Following the match, I received a commemorative pin and some stickers for good measure.  Smashfest provided me taste of the game and by the time the Christmas release date rolls around, I will be more than ready for the main course.



Nintendo owns Super Smash Bros. & all the characters therein (except Sonic, Mega Man & Pacman). Pictures taken from the official Smash Bros website http://www.smashbros.com/

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Matt and the Joker's Five Way Revenge

    Last year saw the passing of acclaimed comic book writer Denny O'Neill. O'Neill had a long history with many DC Comics superheroes as a writer and editor and is best known for revitalizing the character of Batman among others starting in the 1970s. I decided to pick up a copy of one of the more famous Batman issues of this era, Joker's Five Way Revenge which was written by O'Neill and drawn by Neal Adams. The story featured in Batman # 251, was released in November, 1973. While I am gaining a better appreciation for 1990s comics, I largely avoided avidly reading 1970s issues due to their seemingly dated nature and tropes. After reading this issue, I had some thoughts on both how the character and mythos of Batman has evolved over time and a greater appreciation for a more grounded Dark Knight. In Joker's Five Way Revenge, the Joker is seeking revenge for a presumed betrayal by killing members of his former gang and Batman is striving to stop him. By the time t...

Matt vs Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F

For millennials of a certain age Dragon Ball Z was a significant part of our lates 90s and early 2000s experience.The franchise was everywhere from the anime show to video games to the monsoon of related merchandise. Goku and friends return in the sequel to 2013's Battle of Gods film. The Z warriors must contend with the return of Frieza, one of their deadliest ones in  Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F. The anime film had a limited edition run in select theaters in North America and I knew I had to go out of my way to give it a look. Let me start by saying I have loved Dragon Ball Z for years have several volumes of its manga, making a critical review quite difficult. I watched the film in a packed theater on the last night of its limited run with with a big smile on my face. The environment could not be beat with ages ranging from kids to 20-somethings like myself. The movie starts with Frieza's former minions using the wish-granting DragonBalls to bring their master back ...

Matt Vs. Sonic Colors

The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has gone through many changes over its two decade existence. From its birth on the SEGA Genesis and transition to 3-D on the SEGA  Dreamcast to its struggles throughout the last decades, many wondered if Sonic would ever be good again. Since Sonic Adventure  2, I have played several newer Sonic games including Sonic Heroes and Sonic and the Secret Rings however theses titles were mediocre at best. A new game would be announced raising fan expectations and the final product would be a disappointing mess and this same cycle continued for years. Sonic Colors for the Wii and along with Sonic Generations for the Xbox 360 and PS3 helped change this perception. Sonic Colors' plot is fairly basic, Sonic and Tails visit Dr. Robotnik's interstellar amusement part and have to rescue the aliens that the doctor has captured there. The overall tone of the game is similar to those of Saturday morning cartoon shows with voice acting that fits. Unli...